Super Friends 13/?
Continued...
Batman got into the Batmobile and sat for a moment. He had to find Clark. He wasn’t really worried about Paul showing up anymore, but Clark needed to know what happened. He was sure that there would be some sort of wrath to suffer if Clark somehow found out otherwise what happened and found out that Bruce knew and didn’t tell him. Bruce would be sure, then, to see the other side of the mild mannered veterinarian. After some thought, he exited the Batmobile and went over to Clark’s apartment.
After knocking and calling for Clark for what seemed like forever outside of Clark’s door, Bruce accepted the obvious and left. Clark was not at home. He got into the Batmobile and drove off. While driving he tried to locate Clark. He was unable to reach him by phone, home or cell. Bruce tried to think of where Clark would go off to if not in his Superman guise. He could be in Smallville visiting his parents or he could be...just about anywhere in Gotham.
After searching some of Clark’s historical hangouts in either guise, Bruce decided to head on home to Wayne Manor. He had even checked both hospitals thinking that maybe tonight was a late work night for Clark. Still, Bruce was unable to locate Clark. He would go home and change and head back to the hospital. Lois was okay so he could try again in the morning to find Clark.
Bruce showered and changed his clothes before heading back to the hospital in his SUV. Vicky would be discharged in the morning and he wanted to be waiting to bring his new family home. As he drove back to the hospital he thought he’d drive by Clark’s apartment just once more. This time Clark was there. Bruce noticed his truck, which wasn’t there before.
Bruce went to Clark’s door and knocked. “Clark are you in there?”
Clark had just returned home from the gym. He would shower and then head over to Lois’ apartment. He wanted so badly to talk to her. He prayed that she would have him back, that she would understand why he broke up with her and forgive him for being so stupid. He wanted to show Lois that he was still in love with her. Suddenly, he felt the need to hurry so he took and accelerated shower.
Just as Clark exited the shower he heard a knock on his door. Then he heard a baritone voice say, “Clark are you in there?” It was Bruce. Then he wondered if everything was okay as he looked at the clock. It was almost 9 o’clock.
Clark opened the door.
“Bruce? Come in. Everything okay?”
“Got a minute? We need to talk,” Bruce said as he entered Clark’s apartment.
“I was headed over to see Lois. I couldn’t find her earlier...”
“Clark about Lois...”
“What? She is okay...” Clark started as he stretched his eyes.
“Yeah, she is now.” Bruce sat in the chair across from Clark who sat on the couch. He then took in a deep breath and started to tell what had happened to Lois while she was at dinner with Paul.
“Lois had a little trouble this evening after she had dinner with that Paul guy.”
“Why was she at dinner with him?” Clark asked as his eyes darkened with anger.
“My guess…she was lonely, just needed to be with somebody and he just happened through. But, well, let me finish. As they left, he apparently felt entitled to...having his way with her, her. He had her pinned against her car in the parking lot at Arrington’s. She was fighting him when I...Batman...arrived…”
Clark stood up suddenly. “That bastard did what?”
Batman finished the story. He watched as Clark’s eyes glazed over with fresh tears only to darken with anger in a matter of seconds. Bruce came over and sat beside Clark on the couch. He placed his hand on Clark’s back.
“Bruce, this is all my fault, for breaking up with her. I tried to find her today. That must be where she was. I was going to tell her...ask her if we could be together again...try to fix this whole situation. I need her Bruce,” Clark said just above a whisper, trying to maintain composure.
“She’s at home and okay. I took her home…”
“Thanks Bruce.”
Bruce stood to leave. Then he stopped and turned to Clark.
“Oh, and Clark…I’m not sure about this…but from what that scum was saying to her, I think she’s a...well...you know...a virgin. She’s vulnerable right now, so don’t hurt her.”
“Yeah, I kind of thought that from a conversation that we had a while ago. I wont hurt her…any more.”
Then, Bruce was gone.
Lois sat in the corner of her couch for what seemed like forever, crying with intermittent convulsive sobbing. She could not believe that Paul had actually tried to…assault her. Was this the way it was going to be for her?
Lois thought that maybe she was being unreasonable. Maybe this virgin thing was not what it was cracked up to be. After all, Vicky obviously had a sexual relationship with Bruce before they were married and they are now the two most happily married people. Maybe...
Lois was startled out of her thoughts and crying by a “knock – knock” on the front door. She looked over towards the door but didn’t move. Surely Paul wouldn’t be foolish enough...
Again came the “knock – knock” and a voice.
“Lois, please open the door. It’s me, Clark.” Clark waited. He heard nothing, except Lois’ heartbeat.
“Lois, please.” Clark pleaded.
When Lois didn’t respond after what seemed like forever, Clark said, Lois, I’m going to use the key that you gave me. You’re scaring me.”
There was the rattle of the key being inserted into the door and then the lock turned. Lois never changed positions. Tears continued to freely fall.
When Clark entered Lois’ apartment he was not prepared for what greeted him. It was totally dark and Lois was sitting in the corner of the couch hugging her knees to her chest like a terrified child, silently crying. This was more than Clark could handle. The tears started to freely fall down his cheeks. Then is when self-blame set in.
Clark very slowly approached Lois and sat next to her on the couch. Her back was to him. He cautiously reached out to place his hand on her back. Lois jumped and withdrew from Clark’s touch like a scared rabbit. But instead of withdrawing his hand, Clark gently placed both of his hands around Lois and hugged her to him. He started to whisper calming nonsense to her as he rocked with her.
“He didn’t...touch you...you know, hurt you...did he?” Clark asked as he hugged Lois to his chest. He was afraid of her answer as evident by the uncertainty in his voice.
“No, Clark...no. He just...” Lois started as tears overtook her again. She relaxed against Clark’s chest.
“Lois, I am so sorry. It’s all my fault…if I hadn’t been such a... a lunkhead, none of this would have happened. Honey, I am so sorry.”
“It…it isn…isn’t your fault. It’s mine. What was I thinking? Why would he want to be out with me if there wasn’t an ulterior motive? Why would anyone want to be out with me when…”
“Lois, look at me. This is not your fault. Don’t ever think it is. And any man graced with your presence in his life should count his blessings. I know that now. You are beautiful, smart and so many other things. I don’t deserve to be here because I screwed up so badly and it almost cost your…something sacred,” Clark creaked out with love, concern and tears in his voice. “If he had...hurt you...I would have never forgiven myself.”
Just by looking into his deep brown eyes Lois knew that Clark felt every word he said.
“Lois, why did you go with him in the first place? Do you still love him after…do you still want him?” Clark asked in a non-threatening tone.
“No, I didn’t still...I don’t...I just wanted someone to talk to. I was just lonely. But, I made it clear to him that this...dinner...was just dinner, and nothing else.”
Clark just hugged Lois tighter.
“Honey, I looked for you all evening, to ask you if we could talk. I realize now that ending our relationship was the wrong thing to do. It’s been killing me and I wanted to ask if...if you would have me...back...again. I know that I hurt you and again, I am so sorry. But I wont ever do that again. I promise that regardless of the situation, I will never break up with you...leave you again, if you’ll have me.”
“How could you still want me?”
“How couldn’t I still want you?” Clark responded as he rested his cheek next to Lois’ cheek.
“Clark, I don’t know. I fell in love with you even after I thought that I could never love again. You got past those barriers and took my heart. Then you hurt me Clark! I just can’t do this again.” Lois looked up at Clark and saw the disappointment and hurt in his eyes.
“Lois, sweetheart, I fell in love with you, too. You’re all I’ve thought about since I allowed my clouded judgment take over. All I’ve wanted to do was touch you and tell you that I loved you. And that day at the hospital, you were the last person I expected to run into. When I saw you sitting there, so beautiful, holding Thomas, all sorts of thoughts ran through my head. I wanted you back so badly, then and I still do.”
“What changed today? Why now?”
“Seeing you sitting there was just my undoing, I guess. Listen, Lois, please don’t say no. Think about it. I’ll give you as much time as you need. I’ll wait for you as long as you need me to. Just don’t shut me out. It broke my heart to hear you crying every night, to hear you say that you loved me. I tried not to listen but I couldn’t help myself.”
Lois just looked down at her wet Kleenex filled hands. Clark continued to talk.
“I watched over you, trying to make sure that you stayed safe but I hated to see you walk around, so sad. And to know that I had caused your sadness just got the best of me. I guess I really didn’t do a good job watching over you or this wouldn’t have happened tonight.”
“Clark, it’s not your fault,” Lois assured him.
The couple sat in silence, Clark cradling Lois against his chest. Lois had missed Clark’s hugs and he had missed holding her. They just seemed so right together. Then Clark broke the silence.
“Lois I miss this. I miss us...”
“Me, too.”
“Then give us another chance,” Clark said just above a whisper as he ran his fingers through Lois’ hair. She smelled so good.
“I’m scared, Clark,” Lois said with those exact emotions lingering in her tone.
“I know, sweetheart, I know.”
Lois turned in Clark’s arms to face him and looked up into his eyes. She saw love and sincerity in those eyes.
Clark cupped Lois’ cheeks with both of his large hands and looked beyond her teary red swollen eyes. But what he saw really hurt him. Clark saw love and trust in her eyes but also raw fear.
“I won’t hurt you...intentionally...” Clark started as he leaned forward and tentatively touched Lois’ lips with his own. Lois closed her eyes and got lost in that long craved kiss. Clark noted that she didn’t pull away and that she was responding to the kiss with as much love as she could give.
It was a short kiss. Lois pulled away first and looked away.
“Honey?” Clarks said as he gently guided Lois’ eyes back to his.
“I’m just so afraid.”
“Then let me show you that I love you and I am here for the long haul. Give me a chance,” Clark asked again.
Lois gave a slight nod of affirmation.
“I love you, too Clark. I’ve never stopped loving you.”
“Did we just make up?”
“I think so.”
Clark smiled and hugged Lois as he laid butterfly kisses in her hair. All was right again...almost.
“Come home...with me, tonight. I don’t want you here alone. Or I can stay here. Either way, I’m not sleeping without you in reach tonight.”
Lois looked into Clark’s eyes at first with hesitation. When she saw all of the love that he had for her she then gave a slight nod of affirmation. “Let me get my jacket,” Lois said as she stood up from Clark’s embrace.
“Just pack a bag, Lois, so you don’t have to rush over in the morning for anything,” Clark yelled at Lois as she retreated to her bedroom.
A few minutes later Lois and Clark arrived at Clark’s apartment with Lois’ overnight bag in tow. He took her bag to his bedroom and...placed her things in drawers?
“Clark...I...”
“I just don’t want you to have to take things back and forth.” Clark smiled. “I know that you’ve had a long day and that you are tired so let me get you tucked in. Want me to make some tea?”
“No, I’m fine. Clark, I can’t take your bed. You need...” Clark cut Lois off with a kiss. Silently he was wishing that they could sleep together tonight, hoping that he could hold Lois, but he would move at her pace. They couldn’t just start where they left off and that would be okay.
“No, honey. I can sleep out on the couch.”
“But, Clark...”
Clark cut Lois off with a kiss again.
“Honey I just got you back. Whatever it takes...” Clark said as he smiled. “So let me get you tucked in,” Clark continued as he held Lois’ hand and led her to his bedroom.
Once Lois was tucked in, Clark kissed Lois on the forehead and said goodnight. He switched off the bedside lamp as he headed for the couch.
“Clark...”
“Yes...” Clark turned back just as he was leaving his bedroom.
“Please stay...with me. I don’t want to be alone.”
Clark first hesitated then said, “Sure, sweetheart. Let me just make sure that everything is off.”
A few minutes later, Clark slid into the bed next to Lois and reached over to for her. He was offering her his chest to lay on, the way they used to fall asleep together. Lois complied as Clark hugged her to him and placed his other arm around her waist.
“I love you Lois,” Clark said just above a whisper
“I love you, too,” Lois responded.
There would be no tears tonight.
tbc...
